New knee transplant programme starts in Chennai hospital

Rathi Med Speciality Hospital in Chennai launched a new meniscus allograft transplantation programme on Sunday during the Chennai Knee Course 2026. IIT-Madras Director V. Kamakoti and Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Darez Ahamed inaugurated the programme.

Programme Details

The medical procedure uses a healthy meniscus taken from selected patients who are undergoing total knee replacement. Doctors use this healthy tissue as a fresh graft for patients whose damaged meniscus cannot be fixed or rebuilt through other methods. The hospital holds a valid licence from the Tamil Nadu government to carry out these knee transplants until December 2030.

Medical Leadership and Events

N. Ragunanthan, who serves as the director, head of orthopaedics, and consultant surgeon at the hospital, leads the new medical programme. The surrounding conference focused on meniscus transplantation and knee preservation under the title 'The Meniscus 360° – From Repair to Transplant'. During the event, the hospital also showcased its Kinematic Knee Treatment and KPA Knee Preservation 360° approach aimed at saving the knee joints of suitable patients who are under 60 years of age.

Context

The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber between the shinbone and the thighbone. Medical treatments that preserve the natural knee joint help patients maintain better mobility and avoid full knee replacements at a younger age.